Trump said Pulte would only serve in the role for a short period of time.
Trump Names Housing Official As Acting Director Of National Intelligence
Critics question qualifications as loyalist inherits post amid global crises
President Trump's comments are sure to roil members of Congress who criticized the appointment of Bill Pulte as acting national intelligence director.
President Donald Trump said Friday that he wants his new acting director of national intelligence, Bill Pulte, to cut the office, which has already been significantly scaled back during his second term.
Trump also suggested that Pulte’s temporary appointment could allow him to make difficult decisions more freely.
The president wants his acting Director of National Intelligence to start firing employees, saying the office has too many staff.
The president told The Wall Street Journal he wants staffing cuts at the office that coordinates intergovernmental intelligence sharing.
Trump tapped Pulte for the interim position Tuesday.
President Donald Trump says his acting director of national intelligence, Bill Pulte, will not be in the role permanently.
Asked if Bill Pulte has the national security experience for the job, President Trump said he does because he's "smart."
Critics fear the acting director of national intelligence will use his access to top-secret information to target the president’s foes.
President Trump bragged that Bill Pulte has the power to fire a good chunk of the intel officers since he’s just “acting” director of national intelligence.
Embattled acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte won't have the job permanently, President Donald Trump told reporters Thursday.
President said he’d like to see intelligence agencies shrink as Senate blocks Fisa extension amid disquiet over nomination of Bill Pulte
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (AP) — President Donald Trump said on Friday that he wants Bill Pulte, his new acting director of national intelligence, to cut the office, which has
President Trump told the Wall Street Journal he may even want to terminate the Office of the Director of National Intelligence altogether.
The Republican president said in an earlier interview with The Wall Street Journal that he has asked Pulte to start the process of firing employees.
Trump reiterated that acting Director Bill Pulte would "do a good job" and that he would watch for the size of the workforce while at ODNI.
"The naming of Pulte to that position, although the timing arguably wasn't the best..."
Trump says Bill Pulte is ‘less shackled’ because he has only been appointed director of national intelligence temporarily. Key US politics stories from 5 June 2026 at a glance